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handle is hein.crs/govbadb0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Thailand: Background and U.S. Relations Overview Thailand is a long-time military ally and economic partner of the United States. These ties endure, but more than a decade of political turmoil in Thailand, including two military coups in 2006 and 2014, has complicated U.S.- Thai relations and erased Thailand's image as a model democracy in Southeast Asia. Thailand conducted nationwide elections in March 2019- its first since 201 1-and in June seated a new government led by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the former Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army who led the 2014 coup. The polls were conducted under new rules drafted by the junta that structurally protect the military's influence, and questions remain about the new government's popular legitimacy. The military government also rewrote Thailand's constitution to create a military- appointed Senate, and was widely criticized for harassment of government critics and severe restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly. The United States suspended security assistance to Thailand after the 2014 coup as required by law, but other aspects of the U.S.-Thai military relationship remain, including the annual Cobra Gold military exercise, the largest multilateral exercise in Asia. The United States continues to provide non-security aid to the country, and maintains regional offices for many U.S. programs at the Embassy in Bangkok. As one of Southeast Asia's most developed nations, Thailand has the potential to support U.S. initiatives, such as broadening regional defense cooperation. Thailand is the 2019 chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and as such is to convene and lead the region's key multilateral forums this year. However, Bangkok's domestic challenges and the resulting damage to U.S.-Thai relations have diminished opportunities for new bilateral coordination. Following the 2019 polls, U.S. policymakers face challenges in rekindling the bilateral relationship while encouraging Thailand to fully return to democratic norms. Thailand's Politics and Elections Thailand's political turmoil has involved a broad clash between the nation's political establishment (a mix of the military, royalists, senior bureaucrats, and many urban and middle class citizens) and backers of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was deposed in the 2006 coup and now resides overseas. Thaksin was popular, particularly with the rural poor, because of his populist policies and political empowerment of traditionally marginalized communities. Yet, Thaskin was, and still is, a divisive figure, and critics accused him of corruption and human rights abuses while he was in office. Between 2001 and Updated June 25, 2019 2011, Thaksin and his supporters won six consecutive national elections, but their leaders were repeatedly removed from office, by either military or judicial coup. The 2014 military coup deposed an acting prime minister after Thaksin's sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, was ousted from the premiership by a Constitutional Court decision that many observers saw as politically motivated. During this period of instability, Thailand has seen numerous large- scale demonstrations, and some have turned violent. In 2010, clashes over several weeks killed 80 civilians in Bangkok. Thailand Capital: Bangkok Size: Slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming Population: 68.6 million (July 2018 est.) Infant Mortality: 9 deaths/1,000 live births Fertility Rate: 1.52 children born/woman (U.S.=1.72) GDP (official exchange rate): $455.4 billion (2017 est.) GDP per capita (PPP): $17,900 (2017 est.) Source: CIA World Factbook, 2018 The 2014 coup was Thailand's 12th successful coup since 1932. It installed then-Army Commander Prayuth as prime minister and head of the military junta. Although Prayuth declared an end to martial law in April 2015, the junta retained authoritarian powers under the new Constitution approved by Thai voters in 2016 that was later signed into law by the King. The new Constitution limits the power of political parties and gives the military the ability to appoint members to an upper house that along with the elected lower house selects the prime minister. In the March 2019 polls, voting ran smoothly overall. The Election Commission of Thailand, however, received widespread criticism when irregularities such as releasing inconsistent and delayed results occurred, raising skepticism about the credibility of the elections. Poll statistics, such as voter turnout in comparison to the number of ballots cast, fluctuated in the days after the election. As poll results continued to change, Prayuth's military-backed party and the opposing pro-democratic Thaksin faction both claimed to have won enough votes to form a coalition government. Official results were released on May 9, and Prayuth's party was able to form a coalition government in Parliament by a narrow margin. Prayuth was officially voted in as Prime Minister on June 5, 2019. Royal Succession The monarchy is one of Thailand's most powerful political institutions. It has few formal authorities, but during King https://crsreports.congress.gos

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